Aphrodisiac

By Terry Hayward

Rhinos are being poached from a Private Game Reserve and Jack Delaney and his team are called in to put a stop to this blight. From the office of the owners of the Big 5 Games Reserve the non-stop action moves to the bushveldt of the Game reserve itself. Crocodile and hippo infested rivers become potential murder weapons as a Game Ranger is kidnapped and murder too rears its ugly head. The mob are ruthless in their attempts to take over control of the Private Game Reserve so that they can use it as a staging post for their smuggling and poaching activities, and the so battle for control comes to a head in the dark of night in and amongst crocodiles and hippos in a river bed.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Terry Hayward
• Release date: May 26, 2015
• ISBN: 9781310773914

Terry Hayward

I was born in Boksburg on the 3rd June, 1944, and lived in Benoni until I turned 7, when the family moved to Bulawayo in the then Rhodesia. I attend C.B.C. until the family moved back to South Africa in 1959 and then I concluded my schooling at Westville. In 1962 I attended the Durban Campus of the Natal University to study law. I was admitted to the side-bar on the 4th March, 1968, and practised law in Durban and Westville until 1987. I married Rita Hayes in November of 1968 and we had 2 children, Carmen who studied Industrial Psychology and Human Resources. Our son, Adrian, studied Nature Conservation and worked first at the Weenen Game Reserve before being transferred to the Mkhuze Game Reserve where he worked until he married a Canadian Lass and went to live in Canada last year. Carmen with her husband and 2 children now live in New Zealand and Rita and I live in a ‘granny flat’ with them.

Book preview

APHRODISIAC

By Terry Hayward

Copyright 2015 by Terry Hayward

Smashwords edition

Chapter 1

The word ‘aphrodisiac’ is defined by the Concise Oxford Dictionary as ‘(drug) producing venereal desire’ and then in turn defines ‘venereal’ as ‘of sexual intercourse’, thus aphrodisiac probably means a ‘desire communicated by sexual intercourse’.

Now, to me, that simply means that an aphrodisiac is supposed to make you feel horney, like you want to participate in sexual intercourse (probably ‘love’ is the wrong word to use here in our modern day as I believe that anyone who needs an aphrodisiac without medical reasons, is merely in it for the lust, not love). An example of what an aphrodisiac would be is ‘Rhino horn’ which some Eastern people believe makes them feel really sexy. I suppose it’s actually the men, not so much the women, who are turned on by a dose of rhino horn. My personal opinion is that women are more likely to find diamonds an aphrodisiac, except that they will, hopefully, not be ingesting them.

This leads me into the new case I’ve been asked to investigate. A certain large South African Hotel and Leisure Resort Company, the Sebastian Group, had contacted me and asked me to meet with them this morning to investigate the shooting of five rhinos in their newest acquisition, a private game reserve in Zululand, and the consequent stealing of the rhinos’ horns on the reserve. The presumption was that an overseas organization is behind the killing and theft because of the belief that that is what the horns are being used for (to manufacture aphrodisiacs). There was also the generally accepted belief that middle-eastern Arabs (I hope that this politically OK to say) were using part of the horns as dagger handles.

I attended the meeting that morning at the Group’s Durban Sebastian Hotel (known simply as ‘The Sebastian’, as are all their hotels around, not only South Africa, but internationally as well). This hotel, like all their hotels, has a five star rating! Nothing but the best and nothing spared for the enjoyment of their guests. A comparatively small hotel (I suppose in their case I should use a capitol ‘H’ for the word Hotel) with only fifty bedrooms (maybe suites would be a better word to describe these rooms), but with everything you would hope for, for the prices you pay. It’s old, but oh so elegant. You don’t just sit in their lounge chairs, you really do lounge in them. Irrespective of your body shape or size, you are left with the feeling that that particular chair was designed specifically with you in mind, unlike the huge, posh chairs in the office of my good friend the Deputy Attorney General.

The meeting was scheduled for ten o’clock and I was waiting in the reception lobby with my two partners, my wife Rose, and Moses Dhlamini. Even the six foot seven Mo looked like the chair was made with him in mind.

At exactly one minute to ten a very pretty and neatly dressed secretarial assistant appeared as if by magic and asked us to follow her. Now that I come to think about it, she was really pretty and I really enjoyed following her. She led us into an office fit for a king. Small and cosy but nevertheless definitely still an office, not a lounge.

Behind the beautiful mahogany desk sat a well-groomed man, apparently in his early to mid fifties, but away in a corner sat an old man (I subsequently learned that he had just recently celebrated his eightieth birthday) who was obviously in charge of things, he just had that sense of authority written all over him. He had an air about him that simply said, ‘I’m the boss’.

My sister worked for the Group in their Johannesburg head office as the internal auditor and has worked for the company since she completed her university studies. I think it was because of her influence that I had been retained as their investigative attorney. She had done her articles with a firm of auditors who did the audit for the Group and when she finished university and qualified, they approached her to take up a full time job with the company.

The man behind the desk rose as we entered, came around the desk and graciously ushered us to lounge chairs opposite the old man. As we sank into the chairs I recognized the old man as Keith Sebastian, the son of the original founder of the Sebastian Group. He had always been an avid supporter of the Anglican Church in Johannesburg and now that he had moved to Durban, he continued to support the Church here. I had never met him before, but I had certainly heard a lot about him, apart from his sterling work for the Church. He had been personally trained by his father to take over the reigns of the Group and he was now in turn personally grooming his son to take over from him. In fact I merely presumed the younger man was the son.

Let me introduce myself, the younger man said as he held out his right hand to me. I’m Michael Sebastian and this is my father, Keith, he added motioning with his other hand to the old man.

I’m Jack Delaney, I acknowledged, rising to my feet and shaking his hand. Then, I introduced Rose and Mo. This is my wife and partner, Rose, and this is our partner Moses.

We shook hands all around and as the rest of us sat down again, Michael Sebastian asked, Care for a cuppa? as he pressed a bell on the side of his desk.

As he walked back and took a chair with us, next to the old man, he continued, Although we’ve not met I know a lot about you. You,’ he said turning to me, Are Father Jack Delaney, your wife Rose has worked with you all your career and this impressive looking man is none other than Mo Dhlamini, the ex-game ranger and now private investigator.

I politely (I hope) bowed my head to him in agreement as the pretty young assistant re-entered the office to take our ‘cuppa’ orders. The three of us all asked for coffee whilst Michael ordered tea for him and his Dad (I subsequently learned that he never called the old man ‘Dad’, but always ‘Father’.

The orders taken, the young lady (as you know I’m not very politically correct so I ask you to forgive me if I erroneously call her a lady; I’m very old fashioned in that way) left the room and Michael continued, I’d like to ask you a few questions, if you don’t mind, so that I can get a better picture of each of you. All I’ve been able to find out about you is from the press and that tells one nothing personal.

I was starting to get a bit annoyed about his attitude, as I didn’t feel he needed to know more about us than was already in the public domain. He had obviously decided to hire us because of our reputation, not merely because of a personal recommendation, and our personal lives had nothing to do with him. But I bit my tongue, crossed my legs and answered, I’m afraid somewhat rudely, It’s your money so ask away.

That earned me a dirty look from Rose as she interposed, Please forgive my husband, and he always feels his reputation should speak for itself.

I quite understand, Michael replied, a bit embarrassed, as he leant over towards her. It’s just that this matter has come as a big shock to us and we need to ensure we have the right people working on the case. My father and I don’t doubt your integrity, but we would like to assure ourselves that you’re capable of investigating this mess.

I apologise for my rudeness, I responded as I uncrossed my legs. We’ll happily answer your questions.

Thank you, he said, leaning back into his chair. Its important we don’t get off on the wrong foot. All I really want to know is something about yourselves and how you work.

Right, I replied as I too leaned comfortably back into my chair and relaxed. I practiced law here in Durban for twenty five years and then sold my practice to answer a call from God into the ordained ministry. After my ordination I worked as a chaplain in the Westville Prison here in Durban for three years, was let go by the Prison Department for reasons that don’t matter here, and was then in parish ministry for twenty years. I retired a few years ago and set up our little business as an investigating attorney. That’s about all I can think that you might need to know about me.

Good! he said, and then asked, And your partners?

Well, I replied, looking across at Rose. Rose came to work for me when I decided to practice law on my own nearly forty years ago and left the partnership I had been working with. She started out as my bookkeeper, then became office manager but now does all the above and is also an investigator.

Perfect, he acknowledged, and then looking across at Mo he asked. Tell me something about the big man.

I looked fondly at Mo as I explained. Mo was a game ranger in Zululand where he had the unfortunate luck to encounter a poacher who took a swing at him with a cane knife. Mo was badly injured but he punched the poacher a few times, unfortunately killing him, and as a result spent six years in gaol. That’s where I met him while I was still working as chaplain in the prison.

There was a gentle tap on the office door and the assistant entered carrying a tray of coffee, tea and biscuits which she proceeded to pass around, then, without a word, she quietly left the office, gently closing the door behind her.

With an appreciative sip from a really great cup of coffee, I continued. Mo joined me in the parish after his release on parole where he worked as the verger and subsequently became a lay minister. And that’s about it in a nutshell.

Thank you for your honesty. I’m glad you mentioned Mo’s criminal record, which we obviously already knew about, but it proves your sincerity that you hide nothing from us, he said as he stood up and went to stand beside his father. We’re in a real predicament here because the Group has never had this type of criminal problem before. We’re a very law abiding organization. To be perfectly honest, we’re out of our depths. We desperately need your help.

Perfectly understandable, I acknowledged. And that’s where we come in. Our job is to take this worry off your shoulders, and if you really are innocent, which, of course, we have no reason to doubt, we’ll make it all go away.

I also rose and moved to stand between Rose and Mo. We are experts in dealing with all kinds of skulduggery and we’ll do what we can to take as much of this load off you. All we ask is that you trust us and co-operate with us by giving us your Group’s complete co-operation. Our job is to get to the bottom of all this and keep you and your Group protected.

Much appreciated, and I assure you that the entire Group will co-operate with you, he replied, putting his hand on his father’s shoulder with unembarrassed affection and giving the old man a quick squeeze. Then, moving back to his chair he continued, Father and I will be the only ones you are to deal with. Even your sister needs to know nothing about your investigations.

Understood, unless we deem it necessary as part of our ongoing investigations, I agreed. I think that’s best so that nobody knows what we’re about.

We only recently bought the Ubombo River Lodge as part of our expansion into the conservation and eco-tourism industry, Michael explained, sitting very upright. We had no problems with the Conservation authorities who were very supportive of us, but we intend buying another game lodge in a year or two and are concerned that this loss of the rhinos might be misconstrued as an inability on our part to manage the game reserve to the satisfaction of the Parks Board authorities.

Michael leaned back in his chair and sighed. As a family we have always been interested in game conservation and are really distressed over the loss. It’s not just a money thing, although the five rhinos we’ve lost translates into in excess of half a million Rands, we’re trying to build up the lodge, not lose it.

What about insurance, I